Method and system for unified management of plurality of assets using computer network

ABSTRACT

A method and system for collectively displaying in real-time on the Internet the status of personal assets and transactions. The system comprises a plurality of asset databases corresponding to a plurality of financial institutions; storing portfolio information related to total assets in the above-mentioned plurality of financial institutions; a unified asset management server for receiving asset information from the above-mentioned plurality of financial institutions and storing same respectively in the above-mentioned plurality of asset databases, and preparing the above-mentioned portfolio based on the above-mentioned plurality of asset databases and storing the same; an asset management database for managing a user&#39;s assets; and a financial institution server connected to the above-mentioned authentication database, the above-mentioned asset management database, and the above-mentioned transaction management database. The unified asset management server prepares a portfolio of all assets.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/679,294, filed Oct. 6, 2000, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a method and system for the unifiedmanagement of a plurality of assets using a computer network, whichenables a user, who has accounts at a plurality of financialinstitutions, to automatically and in real-time obtain without anytrouble a portfolio comprising a plurality of assets.

Services, by which funds are deposited, or stocks and bonds are boughtand sold via an Internet home page, are being provided as electroniccommerce. Furthermore, it is also possible to obtain balance informationon one's own account. In services such as these, although a user is ableto separately peruse on the Internet the status of asset information ortransactions of his account with a company, which provides such service,he is not able to simultaneously obtain the status of asset informationand transactions of a plurality of companies.

In the utilization and management of assets, there is used a table,which is called a portfolio, and by which all asset information ismanaged by perusal. In the past, a portfolio was prepared usingoff-the-shelf asset management software. A portfolio is also effectivewhen using electronic commerce, and it is desirable that this portfoliobe capable of being prepared and updated easily and in real-time.However, when using off-the-shelf asset management software, it is notpossible for a user to grasp the current overall state of assetinformation unless he inputs each account transaction himself each time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to solve for such problems byproviding a service, which collectively peruses assets at a plurality ofdifferent companies, and automatically prepares a portfolio based on theresults thereof.

According to a method and system for the unified management of aplurality of assets using a computer network related to the presentinvention, a user's comprehensive asset management is made easier byproviding a service, which collectively displays in real-time on theInternet the status of personal assets and transactions.

A method for the unified management of a plurality of assets using acomputer network related to the present invention comprises the steps ofa client computer notifying a financial institution server to send assetinformation to a unified asset management server; the above-mentionedclient computer requesting the above-mentioned unified asset managementserver to update a portfolio; the above-mentioned unified assetmanagement server requesting the above-mentioned financial institutionserver for authentication; the above-mentioned financial institutionserver providing authentication when the above-mentioned unified assetmanagement server is the server specified in the notification from theabove-mentioned client computer; the above-mentioned unified assetmanagement server requesting the above-mentioned financial institutionserver to send the above-mentioned asset information; theabove-mentioned financial institution server sending the above-mentionedasset information to the above-mentioned unified asset managementserver; the above-mentioned unified asset management server updating aportfolio based on the above-mentioned asset information received; andthe above-mentioned unified asset management server sending the updatedportfolio to the above-mentioned client computer.

A method for the unified management of a plurality of assets using acomputer network related to the present invention comprises the steps ofa financial institution server being notified to the effect that anevent comprising a deposit/withdrawal process has taken place; theabove-mentioned financial institution server notifying a unified assetmanagement server to the effect that asset information will be sent; theabove-mentioned financial institution server sending the above-mentionedasset information to the above-mentioned unified asset managementserver; the above-mentioned unified asset management server updating aportfolio based on the above-mentioned asset information received; andthe above-mentioned unified asset management server sending the updatedportfolio to the above-mentioned client computer.

A method for the unified management of a plurality of assets using acomputer network related to the present, invention comprises the stepsof a client computer requesting a financial institution server forauthentication; the above-mentioned financial institution serverproviding authentication; the above-mentioned client computer requestingthe above-mentioned financial institution server to execute a prescribedtransaction; the above-mentioned financial institution server notifyingthe above-mentioned client computer of the results of the execution ofthe above-mentioned transaction; the above-mentioned client computerrequesting the above-mentioned unified asset management server to updatea portfolio; the above-mentioned unified asset management serverrequesting the above-mentioned financial institution server forauthentication; the above-mentioned financial institution serverproviding authentication when the request for the above-mentionedauthentication by the above-mentioned unified asset managements serveris made within a prescribed time from the execution of a theabove-mentioned transaction; the above-mentioned unified assetmanagement server requesting the above-mentioned financial institutionserver to send the above-mentioned asset information; theabove-mentioned financial institution server sending the above-mentionedasset information to the above-mentioned unified asset managementserver; the above-mentioned unified asset management server updating aportfolio based on the above-mentioned asset information received; andthe above-mentioned unified asset management server sending the updatedportfolio to the above-mentioned client computer.

A method for the unified management of a plurality of assets using acomputer network related to the present invention comprises the steps ofa unified asset management server being started up automatically by atimer; the above-mentioned unified asset management server requestingthe above-mentioned financial institution server for authentication; theabove-mentioned financial institution server providing authenticationwhen the request for the above-mentioned authentication by theabove-mentioned unified asset management server was made within apredetermined time period; the above-mentioned unified asset managementserver requesting the above-mentioned financial institution server tosend the above-mentioned asset information; the above-mentionedfinancial institution server sending the above-mentioned assetinformation to the above-mentioned unified asset management server; theabove-mentioned unified asset management server updating a portfoliobased on the above-mentioned asset information received; and theabove-mentioned unified asset management server sending the updatedportfolio to the above-mentioned client computer.

Preferably, the method for the unified management of a plurality ofassets using a computer network related to the present invention alsocomprises the step of ending the above-mentioned updated portfolio to anadviser server in order to receive advice.

A unified asset management system related to the present inventioncomprises a plurality of assets databases corresponding to a pluralityof financial institutions; a plurality of authentication informationdatabases corresponding to the above-mentioned plurality of financialinstitutions; a portfolio database for storing portfolio informationrelated to total assets in the above-mentioned plurality of financialinstitutions; a unified asset management server for receiving assetinformation from the above-mentioned plurality of financial institutionsand storing same respectively in the above-mentioned plurality of assetdatabases, and, in addition, for preparing the above-mentioned portfoliobased on the above-mentioned plurality of asset databases and storingsame in the above-mentioned portfolio database; an authenticationdatabase for performing user authentication; an asset managementdatabase for managing a user's assets; a transaction management databasefor storing transaction information related to a user's assets; an eventnotification unit, which, when a transaction occurs, notifies theabove-mentioned unified asset management server to that effect; and afinancial institution server connected to to the above-mentionedauthentication database, the above-mentioned asset management database,and the above-mentioned transaction management database, and theabove-mentioned financial institution server sends asset information tothe above-mentioned unified asset management server after thenotification of the above-mentioned event notification unit.

A unified asset management system related to the present inventioncomprises a plurality at assets databases corresponding to a pluralityof financial institutions; a plurality of authentication informationdatabases corresponding to the above-mentioned plurality of financialinstitutions; a portfolio database for storing portfolio informationrelated to total assets in the above-mentioned plurality of financialinstitutions; a clock/calendar apparatus; a unified asset managementserver for receiving asset information from the above-mentionedplurality of financial institutions and storing, same respectively inthe above-mentioned plurality of asset databases and, in addition, forpreparing the above-mentioned portfolio based on the above-mentionedplurality of asset databases and storing same in the above-mentionedportfolio database; an authentication database for performing userauthentication; an asset management database for managing a user'sassets; a transaction management database for storing transactioninformation related to a user's assets; a second clock/calendarapparatus; and a financial institution server connected to to theabove-mentioned authentication database, the above-mentioned assetmanagement database, and the above-mentioned transaction managementdatabase, and the above-mentioned unified asset management serverreceives a signal from the above-mentioned clock/calendar apparatus, andrequests the above-mentioned financial institution server to send assetinformation, and the above-mentioned financial institution serverreceives a signal from the above-mentioned second clock/calendarapparatus and based on this signal makes a determination as to whetheror not the request from the above-mentioned unified asset managementserver was made in a predetermined period of time, and, in addition,sends the above-mentioned asset information on the basis of the resultsof this determination.

Storage media related to the present invention store programs forachieving the above-mentioned methods/systems.

The media comprise, for example, floppy disks, hard disks, magnetictape, magneto-optical discs, CD-ROM, DVD, ROM cartridges, RAM memorycartridges equipped with battery backup, flash memory cartridges, andnonvolatile RAN cartridges and the like.

Further, the present invention comprises telecommunications media, suchas telephone lines and other wired telecommunications media, andmicrowave circuits and other wireless telecommunications media. TheInternet is also included in the telecommunications media referred tohere.

A medium is something on which information (mainly digital data,programs) is stored by some physical means or another, and something,which enables a prescribed function to be performed by a computer,dedicated processor, or other processing device. In other words, amedium can be anything that downloads a program to a computer by somemeans or another, and causes the execution of a prescribed function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the simplified constitutions of a unifiedasset management server and financial institution server related to anaspect of the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the overall constitution of a system of anaspect of the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an example of a portfolio screen of an aspect of theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an example of a portfolio screen of an aspect of theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing procedure in an aspect of theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another processing procedure in an aspect ofthe embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another processing procedure in an aspect ofthe embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another processing procedure in an aspect ofthe embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The aspects of the embodiment of the present invention will be explainedutilizing the figures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system of an aspect of the embodiment ofthe present invention. FIG. 2 is an illustration showing a utilizationconfiguration of this system. As shown in FIG. 2, a unified assetmanagement server 2 and a database 3 thereof related to an aspect of theembodiment of the present invention are connected to the Internet 6. Theunified asset management server 2 receives a request from a client 1,and prepares and sends a portfolio thereof, and, in addition, sends thisportfolio to an advisor server 5 as needed. The advisor server 5analyzes the received portfolio, and sends an advice message to theclient 1. The unified asset management server 2 accesses the servers 4-1through 4-4 of banks, a securities firm, and an investment trust companyat which the client 1 has accounts, and acquires the asset informationof this client. By using the unified asset management server 2 in thismanner, a user can collectively peruse on the Internet, and inreal-time, the status of transactions and assets held by a plurality ofdifferent companies in accordance with manual/automatic updates. Perusalis possible via a home personal computer or an Internet mobile computingdevice by inputting beforehand the ID and password of each user ofcourse, it is also possible to move from a perused page to the onlinetrade home page (HP) of a securities firm with which the user has anaccount. Furthermore, by sending a portfolio to an advisor server 5, itis also possible to recieve advice by a financial planner (FP) based oncomprehensive, up-to-date asset information.

Next, FIG. 1 will be explained. As explained hereinabove, the unifiedassets management server 2 performs data communications with the Bank Aserver 4-1, but for the sake of expediting the explanation, Internet andother displays are omitted in FIG. 1. The systems of other financialinstitutions are the same as FIG. 1. The left side of FIG. 1 shows theconstitution of a unified asset management server, and the right side ofthe figure shows the constitution of the Bank A server 4-1.

The unified asset management server 2 a of FIG. 1 prepares and sends aclient's portfolio in accordance with a request from this client, and,in addition, manually/automatically receives this client's assetinformation from each financial institution's server. Data related tothe received asset information is stored in a database 3 b. The database3 b stores authentication information comprising an ID and password foraccessing each financial institution's server. Authenticationinformation is provided beforehand by a client 1. The unified assetmanagement server 2 a accesses the server of each financial institutionbased on the above-mentioned authentication information, and obtains thedata of the asset information of this client. Based on the obtaineddata, the unified asset management server 2 a prepares this client'sportfolio. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show examples of portfolios. Because aportfolio of a client's total estate is displayed as in FIG. 4, a clientcan easily carry out his own asset management In the past, a client hadto input this kind of portfolio into the computer himself while lookingat notifications from financial institutions. However, thanks to theunified asset management server 2 a manually/automatically obtainingasset information from each financial institution, portfolio preparationis no longer any trouble. Furthermore, the timing at which the unifiedasset management server 2 a obtains this client's asset information fromeach financial institution is when there was a request from a client,and/or when a notification was received from a financial institution,and/or at a prescribed time specified by a clock/calendar apparatus 2 b.Details will be given hereinbelow.

The Bank A server 4 a of FIG. 2 is connected to an authenticationdatabase 4 b, an asset management database 4 c and a transactionmanagement database 4 d. The Bank A server 4 a performs authenticationbased on the authentication database 4 b, and, in addition, sends assetinformation and/or transaction information to an authenticated user. TheBank A server 4 a carries out authentication based on authenticationdata, as well as information from a clock/calendar apparatus 4 e. Anevent notification unit 4 f sends a notification to the unified assetmanagement server 2 a each time there is a transaction when there is arequest or contract from a client beforehand to the effect that such anotification is desired.

Next, operation will be explained. A user opens an account at afinancial institution, and, in addition, acquires in advance an ID andpassword for Internet transactions. The ID and password are also sent toa unified asset management server. Furthermore, it is desirable thateither a notification or a contract be concluded in advance to theeffect that there will be requests to the financial institution from theunified asset management server beforehand for the sending of assetinformation.

There are a number of procedures by which a unified asset managementsserver 2 a, obtains client as set information from a financialinstitution. These procedures will be explained in order hereinbelow.

(1) When there is a Request from a Client to a Unified Asset ManagementServer

This situation will be explained by referring to FIG. 5. When a useraccesses a unified asset management server and attempts to obtain anup-to-date portfolio, firstly, a prior notification is sent out by theclient to the Bank A server so that the latest asset information will besent to the unified asset management server (S1). This is so assetinformation is not provided unnecessarily. There could also be a case inwhich a third party would attempt to obtain asset information withoutauthorization, and there could also be a case in which the unified assetmanagement server would attempt to obtain asset information on its ownin violation of the contract with the user. By carrying out a priornotification, a user can control the disclosure of his assetinformation. The Bank A server makes a determination as to whether ornot a request is from a real client based on an Internet protocol (IP)address and authentication information from a client. When there are aplurality of financial institutions, prior notifications are made toeach (thereafter, the procedure is the same).

When there is a notification from the Bank A server acknowledging theprior notification (S2), the client requests the unified assetmanagement server to update and display a portfolio (S3). Upon receivingthis request, the unified asset management server requestsauthentication from the Bank A server (S4), and after authentication(S5), requests updated information related to assets (S6), and uponobtaining the required information (S7), requests termination (S8).Furthermore, the Bank A server can be constituted so as to provideauthentication only when an authentication request is made (S4) within aprescribed time following prior notification (S1). Establishing a priornotification term of validity like this is desirable from the standpointof security.

Once termination is confirmed (S9), the unified asset management serverupdates the portfolio (S10), and, in addition, sends an updatedportfolio screen to the client (S11).

(2) When a Transaction is Generated by a Financial Institution

This situation will be explained by referring to FIG. 6. When an event,such as a funds transfer from a third party, or an automatic debit isperformed for a client account at Bank A, a notification to this effectis sent to the event notification unit 4 f of FIG. 1 (S20). The eventnotification unit 4 f notifies the unified asset management server ofthe fact that an event has taken place (S21). The IP address andauthentication information of the unified asset management server havebeen communicated to the Bank A server beforehand. Followingacknowledgment by the unified asset management server (S22), the Bank Aserver communicates the update information (S23). After receiving areceipt notification from the unified asset management server (S24), theBank A server executes a termination procedure (S25, S26).

Thereafter, the unified asset management server updates the portfolio(S27), and upon receiving a portfolio update display request from theclient (528), sends the updated screen to the client (S29). Furthermore,when a portfolio is updated, the unified asset management server can beconstituted so as to notify the client to the effect that updating hasbeen performed.

According to the procedures of FIG. 6, it is possible to prepare aportfolio that reflects a transaction in real-time. Further, accordingto this procedure, the party is clearly identified for sendinginformation from a financial institute to the unified asset managementserver, making it desirable from the aspect of security.

(3) When a Client Carries out a Transaction at a Financial Institution

This situation will be explained by referring to FIG. 7. A clientrequests Bank A to perform a transaction (S30 through S35). Thereafter,the client makes a request to the unified asset management server toupdate the portfolios since a transaction was carried out at Bank A(S36). Upon receiving this request, the unified asset management serverrequests authentication from the Bank A server (S37), and afterauthentication (S38), requests updated information related to assets(S39), and upon obtaining the required information (S40), requeststermination (S41). Furthermore, the Bank A server can be constituted soas to provide authentication only when an authentication request is made(S37) within a prescribed time following transaction generationnotification (S36). Establishing a prior notification term of validitylike this is desirable from the standpoint of security.

Once termination is confirmed (S42), the unified asset management serverupdates the portfolio (S43), and, in addition, in accordance to arequest (S44), sends an updated portfolio screen to the client (S45).

(4) At a Predetermined Time, Such as the Beginning or End of a Term

This situation will be explained by referring to FIG. 8. The unifiedasset management server is automatically started up by a timer (S50),and sends a request for authentication to the Bank A server (S51). TheBank A server performs this authentication within a period determined inadvance with the user, for example, at the beginning or end of a term,or the end of the month (S53). The Bank A server will not performauthentication when a request is not within the period determinedbeforehand. Because the unified asset ID management server performs theprocedures of FIG. 8 automatically without instructions from a client,strict authentication is desirable.

Following authentication (S53), the unified asset management serverrequests updated information related to assets (S54), and upon obtainingthe required information (S55), requests termination (S56).

When termination has been confirmed (S57), the unified asset managementserver updates the portfolio (S58), notifies the client of the update,and, in addition, sends the portfolio to an advisor as needed (S60 a).This is to receive an advisor's advice when the portfolio is updated atthe beginning or end of a term. The unified asset management server, inaccordance with a request from the client (S61), sends the client anupdated portfolio screen (S62). Furthermore, the procedures can beconstituted such that the client notifies an advisor manually (S60 b).

As explained hereinabove, according to a system/method of an aspect ofthe embodiment of the present invention, a user can peruse on theInternet and in real-time via automatic updating the status oftransactions and assets held in a plurality of different companies.

The present invention is extremely convenient, enabling each user, byinputting an ID and a password, to peruse his portfolio using a homepersonal computer or an Internet-enabled mobile computing device.Further, it also makes it possible to move from a perused page to theonline trading HP of a securities firm or the like with which a user hasan account.

The present invention, also makes it possible to use an up-to-dateportfolio to receive advice from a financial planner (FP) based oncomprehensive, up-to-the-minute asset information.

The aspects of the embodiment of the present invention make it possibleto provide heretofore-nonexistent services, whereby assets held by aplurality of different companies can be collectively perused. Inparticular, according to the aspects of the embodiment of the presentinvention, security is also high since in addition to ID and passwordauthentication, authentication is also performed on the basis of whetheror not there has been a user request, and/or, using a signal from aclock/calendar apparatus, whether or not a request for the sending ofasset information was made at the proper time.

The unified asset management server can be positioned as a portal sitefor so-called personal asset management, and is expected to attractnumerous users. An individual can constantly have an up-to-dateportfolio provided automatically by simply registering his financialinstitutions in the unified asset management server. Unified assetmanagement server-based services can be received either free of chargeor at a reasonable cost. This is because the unified asset managementserver is positioned as a portal site. For example, even if portfoliopreparation costs are not obtained from users, server operating costscan be obtained by displaying banner advertisements on the portal site,and introduction fees can be obtained by introducing users toappropriate financial institutions in accordance with requests. This ismade possible due to the fact that a unified asset management server canbe constituted as a portal site for personal asset management throughthe preparation of personal portfolios.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned aspects ofthe embodiment, and is capable of various modifications within the scopeof the inventions disclosed in the claims. Naturally, these variationswill also fall within the scope of the present invention.

Further, in this specification, means does not always signify physicalmeans, but rather also includes cases in which the function of eachmeans is achieved via software. Furthermore, the function of one meanscan be achieved by two or more physical means, or the functions of twoor more means can be achieved by one physical means.

1. A method for the unified management of a plurality of assets allowingcollective perusal of the real-time status of transactions and assetsheld by a user at a plurality of different companies by using a computernetwork and a unified asset management server, comprising the steps of:a client computer sending a prior notification which requests afinancial institution server to send asset information to a unifiedasset management server; said financial institution server making adetermination as to whether or not said prior notification is from saidclient computer; said financial institution server returning anacknowledgement for said prior notification to said client computer whensaid prior notification is from said client computer; said clientcomputer making a request to said unified asset management server toupdate a portfolio after said client computer receives saidacknowledgement; said unified asset management server making a requestto said financial institution server to perform authentication; saidfinancial institution server providing authentication when said unifiedasset management server is the server specified in said priornotification from said client computer; said unified asset managementserver making a request to said financial institution server to sendsaid asset information; said financial institution server sending saidasset information to said unified asset management server; said unifiedasset management server updating a portfolio based on said assetinformation received; and said unified asset management server sendingan updated portfolio to said client computer.
 2. The method for theunified management of a plurality of assets using a computer networkaccording to claim 1, further comprising the step of sending saidupdated portfolio to an adviser server in order to receive advice.